Executed with single gunshot as he slept

KILBURN man Peter Marshall was asleep in bed when a gunman leant through his bedroom window and executed him with a

Bedroom of murder victim Peter Marshall

Major Crime detectives have three suspects in the cold-blooded 1992 murder. Two of them have since died and there is insufficient evidence to proceed against the third man.

Detectives suspect the ­motive for Mr Marshall’s callous murder lies in a complex domestic situation that included unconfirmed rape allegations levelled at him involving a relative of the three suspects.

Peter John Marshall was found dead in his Kilburn flat in 1992.Source:Supplied

However, his minor drug activities and sexual liaisons with other women — some married — may also have been behind his death.

Major Crime case detective Sergeant Justin Ganley said while investigators were keeping an open mind concerning the motive, there was “little doubt” Mr Marshall’s killer knew him.

“They knew which bedroom he slept in — they came around to the window, which was not locked,” he said.

“The speckling indicates the weapon was fired in proximity to his face.

“We believe they have opened the window, leant over and shot him while he was asleep.”

After being shot, Mr Marshall rolled off the bed and died on the floor, where he was found hours later.

There was no sign of a struggle in the bedroom. Although the solid timber front door was open, the screen door was locked. No firearm was found inside the unit.

Mr Marshall, 35, was found in the unit in Northcote St, Kilburn, at 12.15pm on February 5, 1992, by a female friend who could not contact him.

A pathologist initially suspected he had died from a brain aneurysm because of the quantity of blood on his face, head and his pillow, but an autopsy the next day revealed a single gunshot wound to his left temple just above his ear.

Detectives believe the gunman opened a window directly adjacent his bed, leant over Mr Marshall and fired one shot at very close range.

It is believed he was shot between 4am and 4.30am. A neighbour heard a loud noise, followed by a “gagging” type of noise.

Mr Marshall worked at a nearby plastics factory and was originally from Merbein in Victoria.

Peter John Marshall.Source:Supplied

Single, he frequented the nearby Albion Hotel and had a reputation among the locals for his “liaisons” with local women.

He was also a low-level cannabis dealer. In the days following his murder, several suspects were identified and interviewed after a possible motive was uncovered.

It related to rape allegations made against Mr Marshall by a woman who had been staying at the unit.

“It may be there was some jealously over what had occurred with her on behalf of people related to her,” Sgt Ganley said.

“These people had access to the unit and knew where he slept.”

The three suspects had all provided “loose” alibis at the time, but despite intensive investigations the inquiry stalled.

Sgt Ganley said detectives had established that two of the suspects had died interstate — one in 1995 and another in 1998. The deaths were not suspicious. The third, now in his 40s, also lives interstate.

He said associates of Mr Marshall and those who lived next to the Northcote St unit at the time of the incident should be aware a $200,000 reward is available for information leading to a conviction in the case.

“It is more than likely there are people in this circle who are aware of what has happened and who was involved. It would be reasonably well known,” Sgt Ganley said.

“Some witnesses have co-operated and given us a version of events involving the rape scenario and I would urge others to reconsider their position and assist us.”